And while the pathologist concluded in his autopsy report that the neck injuries were thought to be a significant contributory factor toward causing the victim's death, he testified she was "most likely" already dead.

Rivera told the jury the cause of death was "blunt cranial trauma" and said Sandra Lamb, 49, suffered "extensive" fractures of her cheek bone and jaw, a fractured nose and a "very significant" compressed fracture to her skull.

Court heard the damage was so substantial that the body was delivered to the medical examiner's office along with two brown paper bags containing 17 skull bone fragments and four teeth which were found by police at the scene.

Rivera also said the victim had extensive bruises, abrasions and lacerations on her face and scalp from the more than 30 blows and her brain was found bleeding.

"The nature of the injuries was thought to be in keeping with multiple crushing blows administered to the face and head with a blunt object capable of applying localized force," wrote Rivera in the autopsy report.

The pathologist testified that the injuries to the face and head were consistent with blows from a hammer.

Regarding the victim's neck, Rivera testified the multiple incisions went through every single tissue and all of the muscles and cut a groove into the bone of the neck.

He added that the cuts were on the front of the neck and both sides and some were superimposed on each other.

Rivera also told jurors the victim had more than 20 injuries to her arms and hands and said some of them could be defensive wounds from trying to "block the blows."

The jury has heard Sandra Lamb's body was discovered in a blood-stained basement laundry room of her Capilano-area home on Nov. 29, 2010. Jurors have also heard that Kirsten Lamb's DNA was identified from hair and blood seized at the crime scene.

Court has also heard the mother and daughter had a terrible relationship and would often fight.

The judge in the case has told jurors Lamb's lawyer might raise a defence of her being not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder at the time of the alleged killing.

And while the pathologist concluded in his autopsy report that the neck injuries were thought to be a significant contributory factor toward causing the victim's death, he testified she was "most likely" already dead.

Rivera told the jury the cause of death was "blunt cranial trauma" and said Sandra Lamb, 49, suffered "extensive" fractures of her cheek bone and jaw, a fractured nose and a "very significant" compressed fracture to her skull.